dSLR or just a digital camera?

[HappyLefty]

Hi friends,
I take photos as a hobbie, specially family photos (candid, my kid playing together, family trips and similars).
I own an Olympus C-5050 during more than 4 years. I'm planning to upgrade my equipment, but not sure if it worths the investment.
After reading some reviews in Internet, I found the Rebel XSi a good choice, specially the compromise between price, weight and size.
Because I'm not an expert at photography, I would like you help me to decide if it worths the change.
What are the major advantages I'll find with this XSi camera?
Is this camera going to help me to disguise my weaknesess?
Am I going to find better pictures in my hobbie?
Do I need a long training process to take photos with this camera?

I really appreciate your comments.

[neilwood32]

Hi friends,
I take photos as a hobbie, specially family photos (candid, my kid playing together, family trips and similars).
I own an Olympus C-5050 during more than 4 years. I'm planning to upgrade my equipment, but not sure if it worths the investment.
After reading some reviews in Internet, I found the Rebel XSi a good choice, specially the compromise between price, weight and size.
Because I'm not an expert at photography, I would like you help me to decide if it worths the change.
What are the major advantages I'll find with this XSi camera?
Is this camera going to help me to disguise my weaknesess?
Am I going to find better pictures in my hobbie?
Do I need a long training process to take photos with this camera?

I really appreciate your comments.

Taking them in order
1) DSLR vs p&s= big upgrade in quality. Only issue is trying to maximise the potential.
2) Advantages include better focussing (speed and accuracy), greater resolution, lower image noise, more options regarding depth of field and shutter speed, better low light characteristics, higher frames per second (less likely to miss that shot)
3) The camera will help hide your weaknesses but will benefit most by your learning to overcome those weaknesses.
4) better pictures is up to you. :lol:The camera wont take the photo but it will give you better quality when you do.
5) training isnt a requirement but giving some time to learning will. You can learn lots by reading this forum. Another that might help you is http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/

Hope that helps and main thing is - have fun:)

[HappyLefty]

Taking them in order
1) DSLR vs p&s= big upgrade in quality. Only issue is trying to maximise the potential.
2) Advantages include better focussing (speed and accuracy), greater resolution, lower image noise, more options regarding depth of field and shutter speed, better low light characteristics, higher frames per second (less likely to miss that shot)
3) The camera will help hide your weaknesses but will benefit most by your learning to overcome those weaknesses.
4) better pictures is up to you. :lol:The camera wont take the photo but it will give you better quality when you do.
5) training isnt a requirement but giving some time to learning will. You can learn lots by reading this forum. Another that might help you is http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/

Hope that helps and main thing is - have fun:)

Thanks Neil.
Good points. As a newbie, most of the knowledge is new for me and your advices are welcome.

[pennypue]

Having used a oly5050, the one bonus you might really enjoy is ditching the shutter lag when you go to a dSLR! :)

[tim]

If you want to take up photography as a hobby i'd suggest a DSLR. If you just want good photos consider a Canon G9 instead.

[DDCSD]

Is this camera going to help me to disguise my weaknesess?
Am I going to find better pictures in my hobbie?
Do I need a long training process to take photos with this camera?

Actually, I think that a DSLR will shows technical weakness even more. You need to be better at focusing with a DSLR than with a P&S, along with many other aspects of photography.

If you take the time to learn how to use the camera, you will see a vast improvement in your photos.

As far as training, yes, you need to invest a fair amount of time learning the camera, but you will likely find out what many of us on the forums found. The learning process is the fun part. Taking a photograph from concept to print is very rewarding. Photography becomes an obsession, much more than a simple hobby. :lol:

Welcome to POTN! This forum is a great resource. There are many very talented photographers here, and most are more than happy to share what they have learned.

[HappyLefty]

Having used a oly5050, the one bonus you might really enjoy is ditching the shutter lag when you go to a dSLR! :)
Are you kidding? In that case Neil is wrong.

[HappyLefty]

Welcome to POTN! This forum is a great resource. There are many very talented photographers here, and most are more than happy to share what they have learned.
Thank you DDCSD, I wish to learn from people like you and later help to others.

[HappyLefty]

Searching in the web I found this very interesting link regarding the decision between p&s and dslr cameras. Wish it helps to enrich this threat.

http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/should-you-buy-a-dslr-or-point-and-shoot-digital-camera/

[pennypue]

Are you kidding? In that case Neil is wrong.
How on the face of this earth, does adding an additional benefit negate Neil's post?:p

Have you used a 5050?

And you might notice from the link you posted this on the advantages of dSLRs....
Speed - DSLR’s are generally pretty fast pieces of machinery when it comes to things like start up, focussing and shutter lag.
Then this on the weaknesses....
Speed - point and shoot digital cameras were always notorious for their slowness, particularly their ’shutter lag’ (the time between pressing the shutter and when the image is taken. This is constantly being improved but the instantaneous feel of many DSLRs is still not there with point and shoots when it comes to shutter lag, start up and even focusing time.

[HappyLefty]

How on the face of this earth, does adding an additional benefit negate Neil's post?:p



UR Right. I was confused.:o

[pennypue]

UR Right. I was confused.:o
Does this mean you trust me now?:lol:

[HappyLefty]

Does this mean you trust me now?:lol:
Sure!!

[HappyLefty]

When I wrote this threat I was almost decided for a dSLR. After reading your posts I´m sure that a dSLR camera is not a magic box that magically fixes all your faults as I tought.
I love taking photos and maybe I´ll go for a dSLR, but been aware I need be patient and take time to learn how to be get the best from this new camera.
Also, I need to continue using my current p&s camera for ocassional situations.

[Riff Raff]

*raises hand*

Someone else who moved from an Olympus C-5050 to a DSLR here (and before that I actually used an Olympus C-3030!). A short list of major benefits to the move:

1. Everything happens when you want it to. There's effectively no shutter lag - when you press the button, it actually takes the picture. Also, there's no motor zoom lag - because you'll be controlling any zooming directly.
2. You can use high ISOs to shoot in low light. Ever try using ISO 400 on the C-5050? There is no ISO setting on any current Canon DSLR that will ever look that bad.
3. You can get narrow depth of field that simply isn't possible with the C-5050.
4. Simply everything is higher quality, from the camera itself to the images you get.
5. Interchangeable lenses. You can actually use the right tool for the job you need done (photographically speaking).

Now is there a learning curve? Sure, but there's a learning curve to the C-5050 also. With either the C-5050 or the Rebel XSi, you can set it to 'P' mode and just hope for the best or you can take the time to figure things out in more detail. In the process, you gain more control and are able to apply more of your own creativity.

[HappyLefty]

*raises hand*

Someone else who moved from an Olympus C-5050 to a DSLR here (and before that I actually used an Olympus C-3030!). A short list of major benefits to the move:

1. Everything happens when you want it to. There's effectively no shutter lag - when you press the button, it actually takes the picture. Also, there's no motor zoom lag - because you'll be controlling any zooming directly.
2. You can use high ISOs to shoot in low light. Ever try using ISO 400 on the C-5050? There is no ISO setting on any current Canon DSLR that will ever look that bad.
3. You can get narrow depth of field that simply isn't possible with the C-5050.
4. Simply everything is higher quality, from the camera itself to the images you get.
5. Interchangeable lenses. You can actually use the right tool for the job you need done (photographically speaking).

Now is there a learning curve? Sure, but there's a learning curve to the C-5050 also. With either the C-5050 or the Rebel XSi, you can set it to 'P' mode and just hope for the best or you can take the time to figure things out in more detail. In the process, you gain more control and are able to apply more of your own creativity.

Interesting point of view from a 5050 user. Maybe I´m seeing a dSLR camera like something hard to use, but it´s a matter of time to get the best from it.
Thank you Riff Raff

[Riff Raff]

Just as an addendum, a couple of things that struck me as potentially negative at the time when I first switched to a DSLR:

- You have to use the viewfinder, and can't just expect to use the LCD on the back for this purpose. Yes, recent cameras have 'Live View' but there are some drawbacks to using it and it's really not what you should use most of the time.

- You probably won't be able to use it one-handed. It's possible to do carefully and with a relatively light lens, but generally speaking... no.

- It's not light. In fact with some of the faster lenses, it can be downright heavy. If you shoot with it for long periods of time, your hands may get a bit sore at first.

With that said, I got used to it by about the second time I took it out shooting. And there's certainly no way you could ever convince me to again put up with the five seconds (or more) of lag in setting up a shot that was caused by having to move the motor zoom, then having to move the motor zoom back the other direction a bit because it over-shot where I wanted and kept going (keeping in mind that the motor zoom really only has about five discrete positions that it can actually be set to), then having to wait for it to decide if it's going to be able to focus, etc.

[Persephone]

- You probably won't be able to use it one-handed. It's possible to do carefully and with a relatively light lens, but generally speaking... no.

That depends on the DSLR. I'm sure the Rebel line is very light compared the midrange xxD series. Me, with the 20D and battery grip - and especailly the need to use the viewfinder - it'd be fricking impossible to try it one handed like I do with my point nad shoot Nikon.